First and foremost I would like to apologize on the lack of posting. I received a promotion at my current job that bumped me up to Assistant Editor, so my responsibilities shifted from writing a billion articles to now writing, managing, social media, and helping other writers. Check out Breathecast.com to see my new digs.
Originally started as a class project, this blog took on a life of own, and bands and musicians started coming to me for posting. It is awesome, but unfortunately is a side thing for me because SIBandGuy does not pay the bills! So now I'm going to try and implement a better posting system so life does not get away from me and this gets left in the back burner.
So for 2014 I won't make any promises of a daily fully awesome blog, but I will do my best to update the page with all of your favorite local news, industry interviews, album reviews, photography, and quick trips into journalism, film, and the occasional thought provoking music article.
As always, send an email my way to JSarachik@gmail.com if you would like to be featured or even guest blog. Better yet, throw me some cash too! Just kidding...but seriously...
Kari Jobe had a chat with BreatheCast about her thoughts on this
year's Grammy Awards, being a light in the dark, and finding God's
calling of obedience in her life and sticking to His "faithful" plan.
Jobe has become a prominent voice for worship in Christian music and
is using her talents as a songwriter and passionate singer to spread the
gospel of Jesus. She also knows that with her role as a leader and as
someone with a platform to be an example toward Christ, it is important
to exemplify that standard.
"I believe there are people connected to our obedience in our lives,
and I'm just being obedient to fulfill the calling I have on my life and
I'm passionate about it and it's helping people connect with God and I
couldn't ask for anything better," Jobe said to BreatheCast.
When questioned on the backlash Natalie Grant received for her
comments concerning leaving the Grammy Awards early because of certain
events not agreeing with her faith, Jobe stuck to the same mantra
despite admit-tingly not knowing of the controversy.
"We are all going to be in places that we feel are dark. You can walk
into a restaurant and feel darkness, or airport, whatever. We live in a
fallen world and thankfully we have the spirit of God living inside of
us to be protected," she said. "I don't blame her for leaving. I mean I
fast forwarded things, so to get up and leave is probably the same sort
of idea."
Jobe was aware of singer Mandisa's decision not to go to the Grammy's
because it put her in line with temptations and in an atmosphere she
did not want to be in. Jobe respected the decision of both ladies.
"I honor them for it. I think it's important to guard our hears, our
minds, and ears spiritually. When you are in a room, and clearly the
presence of God is not welcome there, I would probably say I would get
up and leave as well. I love the presence of God so much I feel it is
worth protecting. It's not worth grieving the Holy Spirit over."
Jobe mentioned that she watched the Grammy's and enjoys music outside
of the worship realm. She appreciated the performances by Pink and John
Legend the most because the artist's used their natural singing talent
without crazy gimmicks and huge stage productions.
When asked how the Dove Awards or the K-Love Awards stack up next to
the Grammy's. Jobe mentioned they were shows to "celebrate with each
other" because of God's calling on their lives.
"Of course the Grammy's are always fun to watch and we get to see
certain genres of music that we like and connect. I like that the K-Love
Awards and the Dove Awards are more about the presence of God, and even
in this last year, they felt more worshipful than I remember in years
past. The atmosphere of the other shows are a lot more God centered and
sweet," said Jobe.
Referring to the Grammy Awards, "I have to fast forward through so
many things on the Grammy's because that's like, 'Woah' because I don't
like it or it seems dark, not everything, but some of the things are
awesome. But it's also good to be real and watch those things because so
many people connect with that music and I would say that people connect
with things that are real, and give them things that are inspiring
hope. Songs about hope and love people are always going to connect
with."
With secular music on topic, Jobe said it is not hard for her to be a
Christian artist because her peers are all doing the same thing as her.
She admitted it becomes more difficult to share the gospel and her beliefs when the situation does arise outside of the comforts of church
or a concert.
"I don't think it's hard at all. It might be harder if I was in
non-Christian circles a lot, you know where I'd have to defend my faith.
There are times when I have to explain that, like on the airplane, or
someone who doesnt listen to Christian music, or they are jaded by the
church. That's when it's hard.
When sit there and say, 'God is faithful'
and they are like, 'I don't see that, he hasn't been faithful to me,'"
she explained. "It's then that it's hard to answer and all I have to say
is well, 'Give him another chance because he healed my life. I chose
forgiveness and I chose to press in to who he is.' That's probably when
it's most hard, but usually in the circles I'm in, we all do worship and
Christian music."
Jobe then shared one of her favorite testimonies on how God changed someone's life through her music.
"My newest favorite is about a motorcycle dude. He rides in a bike
club and he was on YouTube and found my music. He used to go to church
but he got jaded by church. He wrote in and said, 'You have a grown man,
a biker man in his leather and I'm crying because I feel the presence
of God in my house and just wanted to thank you for being a godly woman
and leading worship the way that you do.' I thought that was really
cool," she said.
As far as what is in store next for Jobe, she is going to head out on tour with Rend Collective and promote her new album Majestic. After that, she will continue on to play a few summer festivals and begin planning the fall leg of the tour.
"My brother is getting married too, never a dull moment," she concluded.
Majestic releases on March 25, and her tour starts on Feb. 27.
Article originally for BreatheCast. See original here.
Recording artist and worship pastor Kari Jobe recently spoke to Breathecast about her new album Majestic, her experiences on tour, her feelings on the Grammy's, and being a light in the darkness through her ministry.
Jobe will be releasing Majestic along with an accompanying
live DVD on March 25, and will embark on her tour with the Rend
Collective Experiment on February 27. Jobe spoke of her excitement for
the new album, and gave an insight into the writing process she went
through in creating the new album.
"I've been a worship leader for over 15 years and grew up leading
worship. It just made sense to do a live project and just write for the
church and to do songs that are more congregational, just with people in
mind that are going to be singing these songs in church," she said
about the thought that went into the songs.
Expanding further on the amount of time spent writing this album, she
mentioned how her contributors were key to the completion of the album.
"So having relationships with Tomlin and Matt Redman, and some of the
Hillsong crew like Ruben Morgan and the Bethel Crew; just amazing
songwriters and worships leaders, helped me write for this project. I
wrote for about two years for this album so, just working hard on making
sure these songs worked for church."
It is easy for Jobe to communicate through worship because of the
love she has for it. Worship music is something that flows out of her
very being, and she has captured it perfectly, especially when creating a
new album.
"Leading worship is my number one passion. You know when you are
full-on passionate about something, it doesn't even feel like work. I
just wrote for two years out of relationship too. Got together with
friends and was like, 'Hey you want to write with me for this album?' or
'Do you just wanna write a worship song?' I wound up having around 50
songs to pull from this project. So it's special too, because there
wasn't a lot of pressure. The Lord was just really faithful to help me
have good songs that were ready to go for this project, so it just felt
like fun."
Jobe also gave an insight into her experiences on tour, and she
explained that her concerts are like "big nights of worship" where she
wants people to enter into a church-like atmosphere to feel the presence
of God.
When pressed on this "church-like" feeling, and how she could
possibly stay in that mindset every night, Jobe offered an honest look
into her relationship with God and music.
"Worship is so important to me. I love to be in the presence of God.
Even on the tough nights, once you get in the presence of God, nothing
else matters. God always shows up," she revealed.
She continued, "In my humaness, I might say, 'Lord please help me'
but He always shows up. When two or more are gathered in His name, He is
there. You kind of get this grace for it once you're out on the stage
and you're going and his presence comes and you're like, 'Oh, this is
why I do this.' Other than that, I love who I travel with, that's
important, having friends and family support."
